Child Support Lawyer Tulsa
Parents don’t just take care of their children because they love them. They do it because they have a legal and moral obligation to do so. When the parents separate, the state takes an interest in confirming that the child or children involved will be cared for, that there will be a continuation of their education, and that their overall well-being will be assured. There are statutory guidelines that dictate how much is to be paid by each parent, but be aware that the judge can set it to a different amount.
What Gets Calculated
In the state of Oklahoma, child support is based on the income of both of the parents and how many children they have. The first step is to take each parent's adjusted gross income. Next, they are added together to get the combined gross monthly family income. (If you are a freelancer or self-employed, however, then your gross income will be calculated using the total income you made, minus any normal business expenses.) The Oklahoma Department of Human Services does offer a handy tool to help you calculate what you could owe in child support. However, this is just a guide, and an attorney can take into account different factors that are specific to your case in order to come up with how much you will eventually have to start paying. Again, the judge can determine a different amount that you’d be required to pay.
Child Support Language and Terms
Understanding child support and the jargon used can greatly help you as you navigate this legal landscape. You may have heard of the following types of child support cases:
IV-D
IV-A
IV-E
Non-IV-D
In December 1975, Title IV of the Social Security Act was amended by Congress. They added Part D, Child Support and Establishment of Paternity. The “IV” refers to Title IV, and the D refers to that specific portion. In an IV-A case, the custodial parent is living on public assistance and is receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. IV-E cases are when the child is not living with either parent and is instead with another family member. Non-IV-D cases are when a private attorney is involved in handling the child support agreement, rather than the state or local child support enforcement agency.
How A Child Support Attorney Can Help
There are two times when you need a divorce attorney: during the divorce and later on if significant changes occur in your ex-spouse’s situation, such as losing a job or becoming ill and requiring long-term medical treatment. When you were married you handled your finances much differently than how you will after the divorce. A child support attorney explains what documents you need to prepare for the child support hearing, and what your rights are. Most importantly, a great attorney never forgets that this legal matter revolves around the most precious person or persons in the world to you, your offspring, and practices with compassion as you go through your divorce.
Aggressive - Experienced - Compassionate
Tulsa Attorneys Dedicated to Your Children’s Well-Being
Parents must consider not only how divorce affects them, but also how it affects their children — both emotionally and financially. At Boeheim Freeman Law our skilled Tulsa Oklahoma Family Attorneys are experienced in all family law matters. We help you obtain a fair and reasonable child support arrangement that allows you to raise your child in a safe and healthy environment. Drawing on numerous years of experience, we help parents:
Understand child support guidelines
Negotiate child support through mediation
Litigate child support issues
Enforce child support orders
Modify child support orders
Child Support Litigation
In some cases, litigation is necessary for your child to receive fair financial support from both parents. Our Tulsa Attorneys leave no stone unturned in preparation for litigation in order to achieve the most equitable support arrangement for your child.
Working within Oklahoma Child Support Guidelines
Oklahoma law establishes general child support guidelines. Our Tulsa Family Law Attorneys will help you understand the basis of these guidelines and how they apply to you.
Using Discovery to Achieve the best solution
We’re committed to achieving the best possible financial solutions within the guidelines. That begins with using the discovery process to compel a full, truthful financial disclosure, so the court can calculate basic child support with accurate data.
Beyond basic child support
Some couples must deal with issues beyond basic child support, such as payments for private school tuition, sports and enrichment activities. The Family Law Attorneys at Boeheim Freeman Law will help you obtain support payments that best accommodate your financial circumstances and most appropriately provide for your child’s needs.
Child Support Settlements Through Mediation
Through the structured process of mediation, couples can put aside their differences and focus on the one objective where they tend to agree — their children’s well-being. Mediation presents a forum for creating fair child support plans that allow both parents to share in the financial obligations of raising their children. Our skilled negotiators can guide the process toward equitable solutions.
Enforcement and Modification of Child Support
If your spouse has fallen behind on child support payments, you may need assistance to collect the money that rightfully belongs to your child. At Boeheim Freeman, PLLP, we guide you through the process of enforcing your child support order.
Of course, financial problems or the changing needs of your children may alter your circumstances. Still, you must continue to pay child support at the current level until the court modifies your order. Our attorneys help you petition expeditiously for a modification to avoid undue hardship.